Actor with Hendersonville roots creating a stir

Published: Friday, May 24, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 9:14 a.m.

Brian T. Finney, a graduate of Hendersonville High School, is making his mark as a writer and actor in Los Angeles.

About Finney's one-man stage adaptation of Joseph Conrad's The "Heart of Darkness," now playing at The Actor's Gang Theater in Culver City, Calif., Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times says, "His performance adapts a simmering tone that threatens to erupt into a full boil." Another reviewer says of Finney, "He is Marlow; the narrator, the voyager. He becomes every character."

Although "Heart of Darkness" became a reality only recently, the process of its creation, like most artistic endeavors, has come about slowly. It began, Finney explains, with a personal commitment to read some of the classics he had missed in school. When he read Conrad's story of the ravages of corporate greed, he was struck by the novel's timeliness as well as Conrad's rich, vibrant language and sense of place.

"I first read ‘Heart of Darkness' around 10 years ago," writes Finney in an article about his play in the Huffington Post. "I was thrilled by the journey to the Congo and up the Congo River, a place unknown to Europeans. I loved Conrad's dry irony describing the absurdity of the company which employed Marlowe. I was fascinated by Conrad's words in explaining ‘the horror,' the final words spoken by the character of Kurtz."

About four years after he read "Heart of Darkness," while on tour in Melbourne, Australia, Finney attended a performance by the Japanese Butoh dancing troupe called Dumb Type. All aspects of the performance fascinated Finney, particularly a lone, naked light bulb swaying back and forth on stage. That single image inspired him. "It reminded me of the anchor light on a mast," says Finney, who began to imagine the possibilities of a stage version of the classic existential novel.

He began to work on the adaptation, going through several versions, taking Conrad's already tight prose and continuing to cut it into a manageable form for the stage. Working with longtime friend and colleague Keythe Farley, director of "Heart of Darkness," Finney produced the first draft last year when artistic director and founder of The Actor's Gang, actor Tim Robbins, approached the veteran members of the company and asked them an exciting question. After complimenting them on the wonderful work they had done for him through the years, Robbins asked, "What do you want to do?"

Without hesitation, Finney knew the answer. He wanted to produce "Heart of Darkness." Robbins agreed to give the play a try, starting with a "zero budget production, just to see," says Finney. The results were positive, and the theater began to plan a full production.

Opening this April, "Heart of Darkness" has been a great success. First meant to close May 18, the run has been extended to June 1.

The success of "Heart of Darkness" is allowing Finney to broaden his role in the socially conscious mission of The Actor's Gang by using Conrad's 19th century journey down the Congo and "the horror" of it to highlight the same horror that exists today. In his author notes for the play, Finney writes, "The horror continues, but instead of being silent, as Marlow chose to do, we must speak about it. The horror won't end if nobody knows it exists."

Although Finney admits that he's thrilled with the success of "Heart of Darkness," it is only one of many triumphs in a distinguished career already spanning decades.

And it began in Hendersonville.

When Finney was in junior high school, he first became interested in theater through his brother Andrew, six years his senior. Tom Orr, longtime English and theater teacher at Hendersonville High, remembers both brothers and how they found such joy in theater. "They could do anything with props," says Orr, "just having a wonderful good time finding play in performance."

When Orr first encountered the younger Finney, however, there was a shyness about him to which Finney himself admits, but Orr soon recognized a "wonderful wry sense of humor — and creativity."

Through high school, Finney continued to grow as an actor, performing in many plays and winning competitions.

"Brian taught me an important lesson," Orr recalls. "Don't overlook the people sitting in the back row."

Ironically, Finney credits Orr with helping him find his passion, saying, "Mr. Orr was one of those teachers who changes lives."

Following high school, Brian followed his brother Andrew to the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied for two years before heading out West to Seattle. There he and some of his fellow students from the School of the Arts established the Annex Theatre that still exists today. While Finney worked on a short film in LA, The Actor's Gang heard about his work and asked him to come join the company. That was more than 20 years ago.

Although Finney holds TV and movie credits, including appearances in television series like "Grimm" and "Modern Family," as well as movies such as "Million Dollar Baby" and "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," it is The Actor's Gang where he does his most significant work.

Finney speaks enthusiastically about the work the nonprofit does with disadvantaged children and teens through its free after-school acting classes, summer camps and pay-what-you-can performances of Shakespeare in the park. The theater's slogan — Entertain, Educate, Empower — is also evident in its program called the Prison Project, bringing The Actor's Gang's trademark style of theater to California prisons.

Finney explains how the company uses a style of theater popular in Italy, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries, called Commedia dell'arte. "We teach four basic emotions: happy, sad, angry or afraid. We train them to be in one of these states," says Finney, explaining that many inmates have never truly touched these basic emotions. In an interview with CBS Los Angeles, Zach, an inmate who has been through the program says, "You find out who you really are. You feel free."

Fully immersed in acting at work, Finney continues his connection to the theater in his personal life. Finney is married to actor Ashley Gardner, best known as the voice of Nancy Gribble on the animated show "King of the Hill." Also, their twins, Jesse and Virginia, are active in summer camps and after-school theater programs, continuing a tradition of educational theater begun many years ago in a little town in the mountains of North Carolina.

<p>Brian T. Finney, a graduate of Hendersonville High School, is making his mark as a writer and actor in Los Angeles. </p><p>About Finney's one-man stage adaptation of Joseph Conrad's The "Heart of Darkness," now playing at The Actor's Gang Theater in Culver City, Calif., Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times says, "His performance adapts a simmering tone that threatens to erupt into a full boil." Another reviewer says of Finney, "He is Marlow; the narrator, the voyager. He becomes every character."</p><p>Although "Heart of Darkness" became a reality only recently, the process of its creation, like most artistic endeavors, has come about slowly. It began, Finney explains, with a personal commitment to read some of the classics he had missed in school. When he read Conrad's story of the ravages of corporate greed, he was struck by the novel's timeliness as well as Conrad's rich, vibrant language and sense of place. </p><p>"I first read 'Heart of Darkness' around 10 years ago," writes Finney in an article about his play in the Huffington Post. "I was thrilled by the journey to the Congo and up the Congo River, a place unknown to Europeans. I loved Conrad's dry irony describing the absurdity of the company which employed Marlowe. I was fascinated by Conrad's words in explaining 'the horror,' the final words spoken by the character of Kurtz."</p><p>About four years after he read "Heart of Darkness," while on tour in Melbourne, Australia, Finney attended a performance by the Japanese Butoh dancing troupe called Dumb Type. All aspects of the performance fascinated Finney, particularly a lone, naked light bulb swaying back and forth on stage. That single image inspired him. "It reminded me of the anchor light on a mast," says Finney, who began to imagine the possibilities of a stage version of the classic existential novel.</p><p>He began to work on the adaptation, going through several versions, taking Conrad's already tight prose and continuing to cut it into a manageable form for the stage. Working with longtime friend and colleague Keythe Farley, director of "Heart of Darkness," Finney produced the first draft last year when artistic director and founder of The Actor's Gang, actor Tim Robbins, approached the veteran members of the company and asked them an exciting question. After complimenting them on the wonderful work they had done for him through the years, Robbins asked, "What do you want to do?" </p><p>Without hesitation, Finney knew the answer. He wanted to produce "Heart of Darkness." Robbins agreed to give the play a try, starting with a "zero budget production, just to see," says Finney. The results were positive, and the theater began to plan a full production.</p><p>Opening this April, "Heart of Darkness" has been a great success. First meant to close May 18, the run has been extended to June 1. </p><p>The success of "Heart of Darkness" is allowing Finney to broaden his role in the socially conscious mission of The Actor's Gang by using Conrad's 19th century journey down the Congo and "the horror" of it to highlight the same horror that exists today. In his author notes for the play, Finney writes, "The horror continues, but instead of being silent, as Marlow chose to do, we must speak about it. The horror won't end if nobody knows it exists." </p><p>Although Finney admits that he's thrilled with the success of "Heart of Darkness," it is only one of many triumphs in a distinguished career already spanning decades. </p><p>And it began in Hendersonville.</p><p>When Finney was in junior high school, he first became interested in theater through his brother Andrew, six years his senior. Tom Orr, longtime English and theater teacher at Hendersonville High, remembers both brothers and how they found such joy in theater. "They could do anything with props," says Orr, "just having a wonderful good time finding play in performance."</p><p>When Orr first encountered the younger Finney, however, there was a shyness about him to which Finney himself admits, but Orr soon recognized a "wonderful wry sense of humor — and creativity." </p><p>Through high school, Finney continued to grow as an actor, performing in many plays and winning competitions. </p><p>"Brian taught me an important lesson," Orr recalls. "Don't overlook the people sitting in the back row." </p><p>Ironically, Finney credits Orr with helping him find his passion, saying, "Mr. Orr was one of those teachers who changes lives."</p><p>Following high school, Brian followed his brother Andrew to the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied for two years before heading out West to Seattle. There he and some of his fellow students from the School of the Arts established the Annex Theatre that still exists today. While Finney worked on a short film in LA, The Actor's Gang heard about his work and asked him to come join the company. That was more than 20 years ago. </p><p>Although Finney holds TV and movie credits, including appearances in television series like "Grimm" and "Modern Family," as well as movies such as "Million Dollar Baby" and "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," it is The Actor's Gang where he does his most significant work. </p><p>Finney speaks enthusiastically about the work the nonprofit does with disadvantaged children and teens through its free after-school acting classes, summer camps and pay-what-you-can performances of Shakespeare in the park. The theater's slogan — Entertain, Educate, Empower — is also evident in its program called the Prison Project, bringing The Actor's Gang's trademark style of theater to California prisons.</p><p>Finney explains how the company uses a style of theater popular in Italy, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries, called Commedia dell'arte. "We teach four basic emotions: happy, sad, angry or afraid. We train them to be in one of these states," says Finney, explaining that many inmates have never truly touched these basic emotions. In an interview with CBS Los Angeles, Zach, an inmate who has been through the program says, "You find out who you really are. You feel free."</p><p>Fully immersed in acting at work, Finney continues his connection to the theater in his personal life. Finney is married to actor Ashley Gardner, best known as the voice of Nancy Gribble on the animated show "King of the Hill." Also, their twins, Jesse and Virginia, are active in summer camps and after-school theater programs, continuing a tradition of educational theater begun many years ago in a little town in the mountains of North Carolina.</p>